Met Opera on Demand Catalog
(Feb. 21, 1998)
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Librettist: Emanuel Schikaneder
de Waart; Bonney, Dunleavy, Lopardo, Moll, Finley
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 33 min.
Mozart’s charming fairy tale has something for everyone: comedy, adventure, eternal wisdom, outrageous characters and, of course, a hero who dares everything for his true love. Barbara Bonney is Pamina, beautiful daughter of the Queen of the Night (Mary Dunleavy), who is kidnapped by Sarastro (a superb Kurt Moll). Prince Tamino (Frank Lopardo)—with the dubious help of the bird catcher Papageno, sung by Gerald Finley in his Met debut role—takes one look at her portrait, falls in love, and knows he must rescue her.